Joy for Majka in stage 17 win

Poland’s Rafal Majka captured his second stage victory at the Tour de France, winning Stage 17 with a late breakaway on the last of four tough climbs in the Pyrenees.

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy trailed by about a minute, and gained more seconds on his main rivals, as he retained the leader’s yellow jersey that he’s worn for all but two stages this year.

Majka, who cheekily winked to a French TV camera with about a kilometre left, tapped his chest, thrust his arms skyward and shouted in joy after giving his Tinkoff Saxo-Bank squad its second straight stage victory.

“I promised Bjarne today that I would win the stage,” said Majka of his team manager, Bjarne Riis.

Italy’s Giovanni Visconti, whose solo breakaway with about nine kilometres left failed to hold off Majka, was second, 29 seconds back. Nibali was third, 46 seconds behind.